Automatic apparatus for feeding strips or sheets to presses or other machines



Nov. 29, 1938. 1. PATRICK 2,133,306

AUTOMATIC APPARATUS FOR FEEDING STRIPS OR SHEETS To PRESSES OR OTHER MACHINES Filed Oct. 15, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INV EN 1 OR.

/ fl/YC 1 H TRICK Nov. 29, 1938. I. PATRICK 2,138,306

AUTOMATIC APPARATUS FOR FEEDING STRIPS OR SHEETS TO PRESSES OR OTHER MACHINES Filed 001:. 15-, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

/$/7/ IC PHTR/CK BY ATTORNEY.

Nov. 29, 1938. I. PATRICK 2,138,306

AUTOMATIC APPARATUS FOR FEEDING STRIPS 0R SHEETS TO PRESSES OR OTHER MACHINES Filed Oct. 15, 1937' 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Max FEED LEVEL Z20 IGL 7 ZINE 90 /9Z Pfi-sss INVENT OR.

BY 2%225 ATTORNEY.

Patented Nov. 29, 1938 PATENT OFFICE AUTOMATIC APPARATUS FOR FEEDING STRIPS R SHEETS T0 PRESSES OR OTHER MACHINES Isaac Patrick, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignmto E. W. Bliss Company, Brooklyn, N. Y., a. corporation of Delaware Application October 15, 1937, Serial No. 169,128

10 Claims.

This invention relates to automatic apparatus for feeding strips or sheets of metal or other material to presses or other machines, and provides improvements therein.

The invention provides automatic feeding apparatus capable of receiving a large supply of strips or sheets and capable of replenishment without stopping the running of the feeding apparatus or of the machine to which the sheets are fed. The replenishment can bedone at convenient intervals, so that a single attendant can take care of the requirements of a considerable number of machines equipped with the present feeding; apparatus. The invention further provides automatic feeding apparatus of the character described as a self-contained ,unit which may be usedalongside of difierent kinds of machines for working on strips or sheets, for automatically feeding them thereto. The invention further provides automatic feeding apparatus of the character described capable of handling sheets or strips of different dimensions and having straight or scroll-cut sides.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation, with parts in section.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation.

Figs. 3 and 4 are respectively a side elevation and top plan view of the plate and certain parts so of the motor controlling means attached thereto. which are seen also at the upper left-hand part of Fig. 1.

Figs. 5 and 6 are respectively a side elevation and a cross-section of a part of the elevator chain and bracket for raising the stack of sheets or strips.

Fig. '7 is a diagram of the motor and parts for controlling its operation.

Referring to said drawings, numeral I0 designates an elevator having'one or more brackets l2 thereon for supporting a stack S of sheets or strips of metal or other sheet-material, which sheets or strips are fed successively from the top of the stack to a press or other machine 45 by means of a reciprocated suction device l3. In the embodiment illustrated the elevator l0 c0mprises endless chains I4, running over pairs of sprocket-wheels I8, IS on shafts 2|, 22 at upper and lower parts of a frame 24. The apparatus 50 may also include an inclined table 26, which includes a plurality of spaced plates or bars 21, on which the stack S of sheets is partially suP- ported.

A motor M is provided for actuating the elevator ID, to raise the stack of sheets S resting on the bracket l2. In the form of elevator i1- lustrated', the elevator I0 is driven by the motor through a suitable speed reduction gearing 35, and a worm wheel 31 on the shaft 2| carrying one of the sprockets over which the chains I 5 Dogs 40, 4| or equivalent means are provided, for supporting a portion of the stack S above the lift-limit of the elevator bracket l2. In Fig. 1 the uppermost bracket 2 is shown at its liftlimit, which is substantially flush with the upper edges of the dogs 40, 4|. These dogs are suitably arranged on pivots 43, so as to allow the stack S to be raised by the elevator past them, and are pressed toward the stack, as bv springs 45, in such manner as to engage the bottom or lower portion of the stack 8, and hold the stack or portion of the stack above them while the.bracket 2 returns to its lower ,position to receive another stack of sheets S to be united to the portion of the preceding stack supported by said dogs 40, 4|. v

Means are advantageously provided for pretracting the brackets l2 from the bottom of the stack thereon, at the lift-limit, in line substantially parallel or flush with the bottom of the stack. In the form 'of elevator illustrated, thebracket 2 is pivoted to the chain, as indicated at 50, and the bracket is also provided with an arm or arms 52 having projecting rollers 54 thereon which make contact with a guide 56, which guide may be inthe form of a cam groove formed in one or more of the table bars 21. During the upward flight of the chain M the rollers 54, on the arms 52 of the bracket |2 run on the guide 58, and while on said guide the bracket I2 is held substantially perpendicular to the line oi lift of the elevator. At its upper part the guide 56 is provided with a curved or cam-shaped portion 58, against which the roller 54 on the bracket l2 runs, and the contour of which is such as to maintain the bracket in its position substantially perpendicular to the line of lift while the chain H on which it is pivoted bends around the sprocket l8, and thereby retract or withdraw the said bracket |2 laterally along the bottom face of the stack S. After the roller 54 passes of! of the cam shaped portion 58 of the guide, it may turn on its pivot, and hang down as shown in Fig. 1. The lower portion of the guide 56 is also provided with a cam-shaped portion 60, with which the roller 54 on the arm 52 of the bracket l2 makes contact, and is thereby lifted or righted so that when the straight portion of the guide 56 is reached the bracket l2 56 of. A single attendant usually takes care of a number of these automatic feeding apparatus, and, when the rest 65 is provided, he can place a stack of sheets on the rest 65 whenever he has an opportunity and irrespective of the position of the bracket I2. When a stack of sheets is resting on the rest 65, and the bracket I2, in the course of its movement, comes to the position of the said rest 55, the stack of sheets is transferred from the rest 65 to the bracket I2, and raised by the elevator to unite with the portion of the preceding stack held by the dogs 40,

Means are provided for controlling the movement of the elevator so as to always maintain a stack of sheets above the dogs 40, 4|. In the form of embodiment shown the controlling means comprises a stopping switch 10 and a starting switch H in the circuit of the electric motor M. These switches have arms 14, 15 respectively, and the switches 10, H are actuated through the arms 14, 15 by means of a part 80 which has a movement in relation to the height of the stack above the dogs 40, 4|. Part 80 is conveniently in the form of a slide having a hook or projection 82 thereon which projects over and makes contact with the top of the stack. The projection 82 on the slide 80 is normally pressed toward the top of the stack by means of the spring 84. The slide -80 carries a projection 81, which is positioned between the arms 14, 15 of the switches 10, 1|.

When the height of the stack S is reduced a predetermined amount, the slide 80 co-acting with the top of the stack by means of the hook or projection 82, is pulled by the spring 84 to a position where the projection '81 thereon makes contact with and turns the arm 15 to close the switch 1 I. This starts the motor M in operation and actuates the elevator I to raise a stack of sheetsS thereon to bring said stack against the bottom of the preceding stack resting on the dogs 40, M, and the elevator continues to operate after the stacks are united as aforesaid, until the united stacks reach a predetermined position which moves the slide 80 to a position where the projection 81 thereof is brought into contact with and moves the arm 15 of the switch to cut off the m6tor M:

Numeral 90 designates a cut-off switch which may be placed in the circuit of the motor which operates the press or other apparatus with which the present feeding apparatus is connected. The purpose of the switch 90 is to stop the running of the press in case the elevator I0 fails to operate, or in case the attendant fails to properly supply the feeding apparatus with a stack of blanks to be lifted by the elevator. The operation of the switch 90 is effected by the projection 81 on the slide 80. If after the projection the arm is turned to operate the switch H the height of the stack resting on the dogs 40, 4I continues to be reduced, the projection 81 will be moved further downward, causing the arm 51 to move against an arm 92 of the switch 90, and through the arm 92 effect the opening of the switch 90.

The feeding apparatus is adaptable for sheets and strips of different dimensions, and for either straight or scroll cut edges. To this end the apparatus may be provided with a plate I00 extending across and adjustable toward the face of the table 26. The plate I00 may be supported by posts I02 projecting from the frame 24, and the adjustment aforesaid may be effected by means of a rack I04 on the post I02 and a pinion I05 mounted on a hub I01 attached to said plate I00. The dogs M are conveniently attached to the plate I00 and move toward and from the table 26 with plate I00 as the said plate I00 is adjusted for sheets of different size. The slide 80, and the switches 10, H are also preferably mounted on the plate I00 (and move therewith as it is adjusted) through a suitable connection such as an L-shaped bracket indicated at I I0. The connection H0 is advantageously made adjustable, for sheets of different length, in a suitable manner by means of a bolt III projecting through a transverse slot H2 in the plate I00.

The table 26 may be provided with adjustable side pieces II5, the adjustability providing for sheets of different length.

In Fig. 1 there is indicated in dot and dash lines, a part I of the feed mechanism of the press. The sheets successively removed from the top of the stack S by the suction device I3 are dropped onto the part I20, and thence fed laterally to the press by suitable means, a part of which is indicated at I22. Where a press or other machine is not provided with the parts indicated at I20, these can be combined with the feeding mechanism herein previously described.

The apparatus is conveniently formed as a self-contained unit so as to be sold and used in connection with different machines. To this end the frame 24 is conveniently mounted on legs I and means I32 may be provided for adjusting the height of the frame on the legs. The legs may also be mounted on skids I35 to facilitate the transfer of the feeding apparatus from one machine to another.

Referring to the diagram, Fig. 7, numeral I50 designates a multiple switch comprising a movable part or armature I52 and having contactarms I54, I55, I56 thereon which cooperate with pairs of fixed contacts I60, I6I; I62, I53; I64, I65, to make and break the electrical connection through said pairs of fixed contacts. A solenoid I10 is provided for moving the armature I52 to bring the-arms I54, I55, I56 into contact with the pairs of contacts I60I65, and the armature is moved to break the contact between said arms and the pairs of contacts I60I65 in a suitable manner; as diagrammatically shown, the armature I52 moves to break said contact under the force of gravity. In practice, the multiple switch is a commercial unit sold by the General Electric Company. LI and L2 designate leads from an electrical line, which are connected to the contacts 'I6I, I63 respectively. The contact I63 is connected to contact I65 through a conductor I12. Leads I14, I15 from motor M are connected to contacts I60, I62. The solenoid I10 is connected to contact I6I by a conductor I11 and also to contacts I64 and I65. The connection to contact I64 is through conductors I80, IBI and switch 10 (normally closed) and the connection to contact I65 is through conductor I83 (branching from I8I) switch 1I (normally open) and conductor I84. Numerals I9I, I92 designate conductors leading from the cut-01f switch 90 76 1 continue to operate to the control-switch of a like (not shown).

press motor or the The parts are in the position shown when the solenoid I10, conductor I80, normally closed switch 10, conductor I83, switch H, and conductors I84 and I12 to the opposite side L2 of the line, energizing the solenoid I10 which moves the armature I52 so that the arms I54 and I55 close the circuit to motor M through the contacts I60, I6I, conductors I14 and I15 and contacts I62, I63.

, The motor M, vator bracket I2 cated by the dotted line Fig. 7, maximum feed As the projection from the arm 15 of switch H, (as the slide 80 is to raise the stack S because the armature I50 will continue to maintain the arms I54, I55 in contact with I60, I6I, I62, I63. When .the switch 1 opens, a holding circuit through the solenoid I10 is maintained as follows: lead LI, conductor I 11, ductor ductor I12, lead L2.

When the top 01' the stack 8 reaches a. pre- Rsum of operation The attendant places a stack S of sheets or strips on a bracket I2 of the elevator I0, or upon the rest 65 which is provided in the preferred form of the apparatus, from which rest 65 the stack S is transferred to the bracket I2, as previously described. The motor M is then started. This may be done by manually turning the arm 15 of the starting switch 1|. This causes the elevator III to lift the stack S on the bracket I2. The lifting is continued until the stack passes the dogs 40, M and the top of the tion has been engaged by the hook 82 on the slide and the slide 00 has been moved to a position where the projection 81 thereon has moved the arm 14 of switch 10 to break the circuit to the motor M.

erate until the new stack The reciprocated suction device I3 successively removes sheets or strips from the top of the the height of the stack is reduced a predetermined amount, the slide 80 is retracted by the spring 84 to a position where the projection 81 on the slide makes'contact with the arm 15, and turns it to close the circuit to the motor M throughthe switch H. The elevator I0 then resumes lifting of the stack until the operation of the elevator is again stopped by the action of the slide 80, projection 81 and switch 10, as previously described. When the bracket I2 bottom of the stack is engaged by the dogs 40, 4|, which hold the stack after the bracket-I2 is retracted. The retraction of the bracket I2 is preferably performed in such a way as to slide laterally along the, bottom face of the stack. In the embodiment illustrated this is effected by the bending of the chain I4, (to which the bracket I2 is pivoted) around sprocket I8, and the action of the cam 58 of the guide 56 during this time, as previously explained. The bracket I2 maing tains a position substantially perpendicular to the line of lift until the roller 54 on the arm 52 of said bracket runs oil? of the cam portion 58 of the guide. Thereafter the bracket I2 may swing away from the underside of the stack, and a0 is righted by the cam portion 60 of the guide 56 as the chain bends around the sprocket I9 and resumes its upward movement. At convenient times the attendant has stacked sheets on the rest 65. The bracket I2 in the course of its upward movement acts to transfer the stack already upon the rest 65 to the bracket I2.

When the height of the stack resting on the dogs 40, 4| is reduced a predetermined amount the switch H is again operated by the projection 81 on slide 80 to close said switch H and again start the operation of the motor M and the elevator I0 driven thereby.

The motor and the elevator I0 continue to opmotor and stop the movement What is claimed is:

1. In automatic apparatus for feeding strips or sheets to presses or the like wherein the topmost sheets or strips are successively fed from the top of a'stack and the stack is raised by eleas sheets or strips are removed as to bring the topmost sheets or stack thereon to said elevator-bracket following the return-movement thereof, and means for controlling the movement of said motor-driven elevator.

2. Apparatus oi. the character described ac- 76 a during the rising movement of the cording to claim retracting said bracket at, the elevator substantially parallel of the stack. 7

3. Apparatus of the character described according to claim 1, wherein said elevator comprises an .endless chain and a pivotal connection between said bracket and chain, and further comprising means substantially parallel with the underside of the stack during the rising movement of the bracket.

the character described acsaid elevator comprises an endless chain and a pivotal connection between said bracket and chain and further comprising means for holding said bracket substantially parallel with the underside of the stack bracket, and also during the bending movement of the chain at the upper part of the elevator while the brack- 1, further comprising means for lift-limit of the to the underside et is beingretracted from the underside of thestack.

5. Apparatus of the character described according toclaim 1, wherein said elevator comprises an endless chain and a pivotal connection between saidbracket and chain, and a guide cooperating with said pivoted bracket to hold it substantially parallel with the underside of the stack: during the rising movement of the bracket and during the bending of the chain.

6. Apparatusof the character described according to claim 1, wherein said means for controlling the movement of said motor driven elestarting and stopping device, and a part cooperating with the top of said stack and movable in accordance with the height of the stack above said dogs, and operating on said starting and stopping device to stop the operation of the motor when said stack exceeds a predetermined height and to start the operation clined of said motor when determined height.

'7. Apparatus of the character described according to claim 1, further.comprising an intable against which a side of the stack rests, and a plate extending across and adjustasaid stack falls below a preble toward the face of said table, said dogs beinz mounted on said table and plate respectively.

8. Apparatus of the character described according to claim an inclined table against which a rests, and a ble toward the face of said table, said dogs being mounted on said table and plate respectively, and said controlling means comprising a part mounted on said plate cooperating with the top of said stack and movable in accordance with the height of the stack above said dogs.

9. In automatic apparatus for feeding strips or sheets to presses or the like wherein the topmost sheets or strips are successively fed from the top of a stack and the stack is raised by elevating means as sheets or strips are removed from its top so as to bring the topmost sheets or strips of the stack into position to be acted on by the sheet removing means, an elebracket thereon which the elevator moves upwardly in one path and downwardly for actuating said elevator to raise and lower said bracket, 9. rest at the lower part of the elevator for supporting a stack of sheets in the path of the upward movement of said bracket, said bracket in the course of its upward movement lifting a stack of sheets from said rest and thereby transferring the stack from said rest to said bracket, dogs arranged to support a portion of said stack above the lift-limit of said elevator bracket, while said bracket returns to its lower position to lift from said rest another stack of sheets to be united to the porstack supported by said dogs, and means from beneath the stack as thebracket reaches its lift-limit and starts upon its downward movement, said stack being at this time transferred from said bracket to said dogs.

10. Apparatus of the character described according to claim 9, further comprising means cooperating with the top of the stack for controlling the movement of said elevator actuating means.

ISAAC PATRICK.

plate extending across and adJustafor withdrawing said bracket 

